Photo of the Month - December

Win a Free Clutch from Toot Sweet Handbags

Check out this great giveaway at Monkeys on the Bed. You can enter to win a custom made clutch from Toot Sweet Handbags. I am proud to say that I own some Toot Sweet originals and I love love love them! This giveaway ends Saturday, November 28th.

Giveaway Winner

And the winner is . . .

Aestraea!

Thank you to all who entered! Please check back in December for my next giveaway.

Earring Giveaway Contest!

I'm hosting another earring giveaway! There are several ways you can enter to win my contest and receive a FREE pair of earrings (pictured above).

How to Enter to Win:

~ Go to my Etsy shop, pick out your favorite item and post it here in the comment box.

You will receive an extra entry for each of the following:

~ Follow my blog
~ Become a fan of my Facebook page
~ Make a purchase from my Etsy shop
~ Post my contest on your blog, facebook, or twitter and post the link here
~ If you are currently a follower/fan, then you just need to make a comment stating so and you're entered!


Please leave a comment here with all of the ways you have entered and make sure you leave a way for me to contact you. The last day to enter this contest is Sunday, November 22nd at midnight eastern standard time. I will announce the winner on November 23rd.


Good Luck!

Holiday SALE

Hi there! I just wanted to mention my Holiday Sale at AKrauseStudio. There are some great prices on jewelry and art. I also have a few clearance items. Stop by and check out the great deals!

Photo of the Month - November

Halloween Special!

With Halloween right around the corner I thought I'd offer a special in my Etsy shop. No tricks here, just free shipping on all jewelry in my shop from now through October 31st. Stop by and get yourself a treat that you can enjoy all year round!

Ring Holder Tutorial

This tutorial will demonstrate how you can make a simple and money saving ring holder.

You will need:

Scissors

Masking Tape

Double Sided Tape OR Fabric Glue

1 Paper Towel Roll

Fabric Remnant

Step 1:

Cut the paper towel roll in half. Take one of the halves and roll tightly so that the diameter measures about ½ of an inch. Use the masking tape to secure the roll.

Step 2:

Measure the fabric so that it will fit around the roll (like you would when wrapping a gift). Leave a ½ inch allowance at each end. Mine measured to about 12 inches by 3.5 inches. Secure the fabric with double sided tape or fabric glue. Finally, tuck the ends of the fabric into each end of the roll. I used the tip of my scissors to tuck it in nicely.

Tada! Now you have a great way to store your rings. If you are a crafter you probably will already have all of the materials necessary. I found my piece of fabric at the craft store for about $2.00 and I have plenty left for other projects.

Photo of the Month - October

It snowed all day on Monday and my 6 year old wanted to make a tiny snowman. I thought I'd document the occasion. The snow baby stands at about a foot and a half. Snow in Wisconsin is nothing extraordinary but snow in mid-October is a bit of a surprise! Yikes. Luckily it all melted the next day but our little snowman is the proof that it surely was there.

New Rose Quartz Necklace

It's been awhile since I've posted anything new. So I thought I'd share my newest Etsy listing. It's a necklace that features seven rose quartz beads. Check it out at AKrauseStudio.

Photo of the Month - September

It's time again for the photo of the month. It seemed like I just posted the photo for July. I guess the month flew by pretty quickly.

These pretty orange lilies were growing in my backyard. I thought I'd capture the vibrant orange hue against the clear blue sky. It turned out pretty good too.

Save $$ Now on Earrings!

My summer earring sale is coming to an end. There is still a chance to save 10% off any pair of earrings from now through August 31st. Get some early Holiday shopping done or treat yourself. Come and check out the great prices at AKrauseStudio!

Bracelets & Rings - Such Wonderful Things!

A new line bracelets and rings will now be offered in my shop. More to come!

For details visit AKrauseStudio.

Conceptualization & Process

As mentioned in my previous posting, I have been working on a series of paintings that I like to call the Tweed Series. I wanted to share a bit about what goes on during the actual process of creating my paintings.

Of course, the very first stage of any painting is the conceptualization. I usually have a couple dozen ideas brewing in my head at any given time. And I always jot them down in my handy dandy sketchbook. Not only do I use it for my drawings but also for notes and inspirations as well as color and pattern swatches.

Pictured to the left is the initial sketch for my original Tweed painting. I started with the basic shape that I knew I wanted to work with and was able to lay out the design of the piece as a whole. Nothing fancy or special just your basic rough draft.





From there I was able to map out a color scheme and play with mixing my paints to get the right hues. And also transfer the image to my canvas panel.



Next comes the process of layering the acrylic to get just the right amount of opacity. I wanted some rich colors so I painted three or four layers.




The final steps to my process include touch ups and varnishing. Normally, for any other piece I would be thinking about presentation and framing. However, these will be left unframed so that the buyer may choose a frame that best suits their taste.






I hope you enjoyed the summary of my process with this series. This is just a basic run through to give you a taste of some of the steps involved.


Please visit AKrauseStudio for more art.

Tweed Series

This original piece is titled "Tweed Mini."
It is part of my Tweed series that features these abstract organic forms that
I have fallen in love with.

For more pictures and details visit AKrauseStudio.

See other Tweed images here on my blog.

Things with Wings!

This new necklace is a must have for butterfly lovers. Adorn your neck with this beautiful butterfly and pink faceted teardrop!

For more details visit AKrauseStudio.







The mixture of sky blue teardrops and teeny tiny angel wings in these earrings are oh so heavenly!


Check them out at AKrauseStudio.

Team Jacob or Team Edward?

Attention Twilighters! Here is something special for you. This is my Twilight/New Moon inspired locket. It features a tiny antique black and red glass moon bead and a tiny heart shaped locket. Whether you're team Jacob or team Edward, you'll surely love this!


For more details visit AKrauseStudio.

Some New Goodies!

This is an original watercolor and ink illustration entitled, "Third Day." It was originally part of a "Creation" themed art show. It is a nice little piece that would be great in any home, office or studio space.

For more details visit AKrauseStudio.







These new little earrings are juicy and sweet! If you want to spice up your jewelry collection, then these babies will do the trick.


For more details visit AKrauseStudio.

Black Rose - New!

Newest creation! Check it out at AKrauseStudio.

This necklace is simply stated and romantic. A single black teardrop hangs from a round rose bead. It is a little bit modern with a touch of vintage flair. A fusion of two great things! It would make a great gift for a loved one or a special treat for yourself.

Blog Giveaway

Nova Design is having an amazing giveaway on her blog. It is for a pair of beautiful flower earrings. Check it out.

Congratulations to my Contest Winner!!

Congratulations to Kristina of KT Paper Crafts for winning my earring giveaway contest!!

A big thank you to everyone who participated. Thank you for following, fanning, twittering, blogging and posting.

Check back for my next giveaway coming soon!

Photo of the Month - August

Nothing says fall is right around the corner better than some sunflower sprouts! These were my 6 year old's little flowers last summer. We didn't grow any this year but hopefully people in the neighborhood will have some pretty ones for us to admire!

See Where my Necklace is Featured

Check out LittleMissFamous' blog called LittleMissHousewifey. She has been a peach and featured one of my necklaces on her blog! Thanks LittleMissFamous!!

New!

Just posted some new items in my Etsy shop! Check it out. =)

Earring Giveaway Contest!!

I'm hosting my very first blog giveaway! So exciting! There are several ways you can enter to win my contest and receive a FREE pair of earrings.

How to Enter to Win:

~ Go to my Etsy shop, pick out your favorite item and post it here in the comment box.

You will receive an extra entry for each of the following:

~ Follow my blog
~ Become a fan of my Facebook page
~ Make a purchase from my Etsy shop
~ Post my contest on your blog, facebook, or twitter and post the link here
~ If you are currently a follower/fan, then you just need to make a comment stating so and you're entered!


Please leave a comment here with all of the ways you have entered and your email address. I will announce the winner on August 4th.


Good Luck!

(earring details: light jade acrylic teardrops on silver ball & spring ear hooks)

Metalsmithing Projects

Hello! I thought I'd share some of my projects from a metalsmithing class I took while I was in college. This is where I fell in love with jewelry making. Unfortunately, it was my final semester before graduating and I was unable to take any more classes.

The butterfly pendant has been in two different juried art shows in the past. It is sterling silver with a rainbow topaz stone. The other pendant was made with a process called lost-wax casting. And I believe the stone was amazonite. I just love the sculptural quality of this piece!

New Jewelry!

Check out my new jewelry at AKrauseStudio!

Earring SALE!

All of my earrings are now 10% off for the summer! Take advantage of the great deals & low shipping costs today. Visit my Etsy for more details!

Pearls of Wisdom

Newly listed items!

These earrings would be the perfect addition to any jewelry lover's collection.
They are so versatile! You could wear them to a formal event (wedding, company dinner, prom, etc.) or with a pair of jeans and a blouse. And the best thing about pearl jewelry is that it's timeless! So you know you can wear them for years to come.
Find them at AKrauseStudio on Etsy.
*Watch for an earring sale coming up late this summer. Details to come.*

Contest giveaway from Geeky Crochet's Blog

Check out this cute giveaway that I found on Geeky Crochet's blog. It is for a unique crocheted banana. There are many ways to enter the contest. Click here for details.

Oh Romeo, Romeo. Where for art thou?

Check out my newest creation at www.akrausestudio.etsy.com.

This Romeo & Juliet inspired antiqued brass locket evokes a vintage-romantic quality. It has been embellished with a tiny turquoise rose charm, a crimson Lucite flower & jet black glass bead.

It opens up to reveal a space that is perfect for something like a picture of your Romeo, a tiny love letter, or whatever else you would like to tote around with you.

See where my necklace is featured

One of my Etsy necklaces has been featured on the blog Studio Haus as part of a contest. If my item has enough votes from viewers my link will win a promotional spot on the blog. Please go check it out and vote!

"Birdie Swing"

Felicity

Features:
~blush champagne glass beads
~antiqued silver flower pendant (approx. 1.5 inches)
~silver chain (18 inches)
~spring ring clasp


This pretty little number can be found in my Etsy shop.

How to sign up for Etsy

First thing's first, you must create an Etsy user account. It is a very quick and simple process and the best part is that it's FREE to sign up. Click here to follow the step by step process.

Even if you don't plan to sell or buy anything right away it is helpful to create an account to bookmark your favorite items and to participate in online workshops and forums. There is definitely a lot to do and see on Etsy and it is not solely limited to buying or selling.

Still confused, timid or unsure about creating an account? Then just read Etsy's FAQ. It's packed with loads of useful information and there is also a contact feature for other questions not addressed in their help pages. I have had to use this feature myself and was pleasantly surprised by the timely and friendly response.

If you have any other questions or reservations, please don't hesitate to ask.

Metamorphosis

I absolutely love organic shapes in design, art & jewelry. This piece reminds me of some new species of butterfly emerging from it's cocoon to greet the world. It is available to purchase here.

Facebook Page

You can now become a fan of AKrause Studio on Facebook. Click here to see my page.

Lord of the Rings Inspired Jewelry

Ok, I'll admit it, I'm a huge Lord of the Rings nerd.
But you have to agree that the movies were beautifully made.
How could I not be inspired to
make some jewelry worthy of the Elves.



Get a closer look here.